SEC roundup: Arkansas rallies for victory over Ole Miss

Sunday

OXFORD, Miss. — Houston Nutt had his coaching bag of tricks ready for his former school. It wasn’t quite enough.

Mississippi jumped out to an early 17-point lead before watching No. 10 Arkansas roar back for a 29-24 victory on Saturday afternoon at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Ole Miss took a surprising 17-0 lead by midway through the second quarter, with quarterback Randall Mackey throwing for a touchdown and rushing for another.

But Arkansas (6-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) responded with 29 straight points to beat Ole Miss (2-5, 0-4) for the second straight season. The Rebels have now set a program record for SEC futility, losing 10 straight league games. Ole Miss has been in the SEC since 1933.

Mackey completed 18 of 30 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in his third career start. Brandon Bolden rushed for 68 yards on 14 carries, but was hobbled after a second-quarter ankle injury and never looked the same.

The Ole Miss offense, which was so impressive in the first half, was equally as anemic after halftime until a late surge.

Mackey found Donte Moncrief in the corner of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown — his second of the game — and the Rebels pulled within 29-24. The onside kick was recovered by Ole Miss tight end Jamal Mosley with 1:21 remaining and the Rebels briefly had life.

But Arkansas’ Eric Bennett intercepted an errant pass by Mackey on the second play of the drive and the Razorbacks were able to run out the clock.

At Lexington, Ky., Wildcats running back CoShik Williams ran for 148 yards and led Kentucky’s most productive offensive day of the season in a win over Jacksonville State.

The Wildcats (3-4, 0-3) were able to break out after a bye week, earning a season-best 445 yards of total offense and 340 yards on the ground despite missing their two primary tailbacks.

With injuries in the backfield, Williams took up the slack as the primary ball carrier after sophomore Raymond Sanders left in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Williams, a junior, finished with 22 carries.

Quarterback Morgan Newton finished 10 of 16 for 105 yards and two touchdowns — both to La’Rod King. Newton also ran for a score.

Former Georgia athlete Washaun Ealey rushed for 120 yards for the Gamecocks (5-2).

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